Category Archives: Challenge
Advice to a Pastor Under Attack
Recently a young pastor with a heavy heart contacted me. He was overwhelmed and brokenhearted by critics in his church and pleaded for prayer. I have added portions of his original message below. I have made changes to keep his … Continue reading
Posted in 1 Corinthians, Abuse, Anger, brokenhearted, Career, Challenge, Church Growth, Church Health, Comfort, Communication, Control, discouragement, Disillusionment, Dissension, Division, Encouragement, Faith, Family, Fear, God's Will, Gossip, Mission, Perseverance, Personal Growth, Purpose, Rumor, Slander, Success, The Church, Uncategorized
476 Comments
Parents – Back to School!
Among the ubiquitous joys and challenges of parenting is discipline. With every child God creates and entrusts to the care of his or her parents there is the inherent expectation that the parents will do whatever is necessary to train … Continue reading
Are You Growing?
Some of my earliest and fondest childhood memories are of watching, “The Wonderful World of Disney” as well as early Disney movies. In the childhood classic, “Peter Pan,” there is a part where Wendy falls in love with Peter. Under … Continue reading
Posted in Ambition, Career, Challenge, Discipline, Encouragement, Faith, God's Will, Inspiration, Motivation, Perseverance, Romans, Success, Uncategorized
Tagged Avoidance, Challenge, Christ, God's Will, Growth, Immaturity, Responsibility
66 Comments
Get Back Up!
Have you heard about the NFL scout who was talking with the college coach as they watched his team practice? The coach said, “Let me tell you about this player I’ve got; he’s the toughest I’ve ever seen.” “How so?” … Continue reading
Posted in Challenge, Encouragement, Perseverance, Recovery
Tagged Endurance, New Start, Perseverance, Recovery
82 Comments
Expect the Best
“Take your umbrella – it may rain!” Most of us have heard a parent or spouse say that as we were on our way out the door. As a student, I sometimes ignored my mother when she suggested I take … Continue reading
Posted in Challenge, Encouragement, Expectation, Faith, Future, God's Will, Hebrews, Isaiah, New Beginning, New Year, Personal Growth, Preparation, Proverbs, Romans, Wisdom
Tagged Challenge, Expectation, Faith, Future, New Beginning, New Year, Preparation
19 Comments
Do You Know What’s Going On Around You?
At a class reunion I discovered that I have the dubious distinction of having more surgeries than anyone else in my senior class. For this accomplishment I received a yellow tee shirt with a reprint of the game “Operation” emblazoned … Continue reading
Posted in Challenge, Encouragement, Personal Growth, Psalms, Romans, Time Management
Tagged Being Teachable, God's Sovereignty, Hearing God's Voice, Humility, Prayer
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Bitter Rivalries and Broken Relationships
What happens when you combine hearsay with presumption and a blend in some deep-seated animosity? You get an angry reaction – much like Clemson’s Dabo Swinney’s unfounded anger and rant against The University of South Carolina’s football program earlier this … Continue reading
Posted in Challenge, Church Health, Communication, Discipline, Dissension, Division, Family, Gossip, John, Personal Growth, Rumor, Slander
Tagged Church, Church Health, Communication, Dissension, Division, Gossip, Misunderstanding, Rumor, Slander, Unity
88 Comments
Your Epitaph – What Would You Have it to Say?
God desires that we live our lives in such a way that the preacher won’t have to search for good things to say about us at our funeral. I heard the story of a man named Bill whose brother Will … Continue reading
Posted in Challenge, Death, Discipline, Encouragement, God's Will, Humor, Jude, Legacy, Malachi, Personal Growth, Preparing to Die, Reputation
Tagged Brevity of Life, Death, Preparing to Die, Reputation
35 Comments
Developing Drive
At 7:45pm August 8, 2011, Diana Nyad dove into the water off the shores of Cuba on her second attempt to swim the 103-miles to the United States. A marathon swim in the ocean would be a monumental challenge for … Continue reading
Posted in 1 Thessalonians, Acts, Challenge, Personal Growth, Psalms
Tagged Determination, Diana Nyad, Dream, Goals, God's Call, God's Plan, Truett Cathy, Value
130 Comments
Let’s Go!
It’s easier to go down a hill than up it but the view is much better at the top. – Henry Ward Beecher For those who are willing to climb with Him, Christ offers an intimacy that those who choose … Continue reading
Posted in Challenge, Joshua, Personal Growth
Tagged Beginnings, Opportunity, Spiritual Growth
39 Comments